Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Elon Musk has once again made headlines with his ambitious plans to send a spacecraft to Mars, stating that an uncrewed mission could launch as early as the end of 2026.
The announcement came during a recent SpaceX presentation, outlining the company’s roadmap for the development of Starship, the colossal next-generation rocket being designed for deep-space travel.
According to Musk, the timeline depends heavily on Starship’s ability to pass a series of complex technical tests, particularly in-orbit refueling maneuvers.
“Progress is being measured against the schedule to build a self-sustaining civilization on Mars,” Musk said in the presentation video posted Thursday, May 29.
The projected 2026 launch window coincides with a rare planetary alignment, when Earth and Mars will be at their closest, making it the most fuel-efficient time for an interplanetary journey. However, Musk conceded there’s only a 50-50 chance of hitting the 2026 target. If SpaceX misses that window, the next opportunity won’t come until 2028.
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Standing at about 397 feet tall, Starship is already the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed. A taller version known as Version 3 is under development and expected to stand over 408 feet. If all goes according to plan, this upgraded Starship could begin testing later this year and may be ready for a Mars journey one to two years after that.
The first Mars mission is expected to carry a simulated crew made up of Tesla-designed humanoid Optimus robots, with human astronauts potentially following on the second or third landing. Musk envisions eventually launching between 1,000 and 2,000 Starships to Mars every two years to jumpstart a permanent human settlement.
Elon Musk has long expressed his ambition to conquer Mars. In numerous public appearances, he has repeatedly asserted that human travel to the Red Planet is not only possible, but likely within the coming decades.
(Raidi/Agung)
